The lowest temperatures of the winter were recorded on Wednesday night – with Benson in Oxfordshire registering -8.1C on thermometers.

And it was far from the only place where sub-zero temperatures were seen.

Drivers have been warned of icy conditions, with a yellow weather warning in place for Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands and the east of England until around 10am on Thursday.

Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said: "We would warn people to be aware really and just be considerate of the fact that there could be some icy patches which are on untreated surfaces like pavements, cycling paths and minor roads."

But drivers aren't the only people who should be worried.

“It’s important to ensure that your home is prepared for everything that the winter months might throw at it, especially this year. Cold and stormy weather can ravage buildings,” said Adam Powell, from insurance provider Policy Expert .

So how do you keep your car and home safe when the temperature drops – here tips from the experts:

Keeping safe on the roads (and driveways)

“By factoring just a few extra minutes before a journey, drivers can completely clear windscreens of ice and snow before setting off, helping them deal with treacherous wintry conditions.

“Drivers should also adapt the way they drive during adverse weather conditions - reducing speed as well as increasing the distance between cars could make all the difference when it comes to driving on icy roads.”

Here are uSwitch's top dos and don'ts of winter driving:

Don’t:

(Image: Getty Images)

Don’t leave your car unattended - It’s obviously a bad idea to leave your car running with the keys in the ignition, but according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), 47% of motorists admitted to leaving their car unattended on frosty mornings to warm it up. This makes your car an easy target for opportunistic thieves, and few insurers will pay out if you haven’t taken reasonable care to prevent your car from being stolen.

Don’t use hot water on your windscreen - Don’t try to cut corners by using hot water to defrost your screen, as the sudden change in temperature could cause it to crack. Some insurance policies include extra cover for windscreen damage but you may still have to pay an excess. The best way to de-ice your windscreen is with a scraper, and spray de-icer can help to speed up the job. Invest in a proper scraper and don’t be tempted to improvise — using other items like credit cards can scratch the windscreen.

Don’t drive through a flooded road/ford - It can be tempting to drive through that flooded road or ford to get to your destination more quickly, but there’s no way of knowing how deep it is. Driving through floods can instantly cause your brakes to become less responsive, and can even result in irreparable damage to your car. In a recent report, the AA revealed it has had to rescue 21,000 cars from flooded roads in the last five years.

Don’t ignore warnings - In severe weather, the Met Office often issues warnings and sometimes advises against driving unless absolutely necessary. If there’s a severe weather warning, consider whether your trip is really essential, and make sure you listen out for weather and traffic reports before setting out.

Don’t leave valuables visible in the car - It may seem like common sense, but make sure you don’t leave your shopping visible in your car. Not all policies cover vehicle contents, and those that do may only cover small amounts. You may be able to claim on your home insurance if you have ‘away from home’ cover, but if you’ve paid in cash and the receipts are taken along with the goods, it can be hard to prove how much your shopping was worth. Whether you’re claiming on your home or car insurance, most insurers will not pay out if the valuables were left in plain sight.

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Do:

(Image: Getty)

Get a winter health check - The cold weather can wreak havoc on your car. Many garages or retailers offer a winter health check to ensure your car’s in a good condition to face the cold — or you can carry out the checks yourself. Make sure you’ve got a suitable coolant or a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze in your radiator, your battery is in a good condition, you’ve got the correct tyre tread depth and pressure, and your car’s oil and water are topped up.

Make sure you’ve got breakdown cover - Even if you carry out a winter health check, there’s still an increased chance of breaking down in the winter. Battery problems are the most common cause of breakdowns, and they are more likely to fail in the colder weather. Make sure you’ve got adequate breakdown cover and you won’t be faced with a lengthy and costly emergency call-out process. You can compare breakdown cover here.

Be prepared - If you did break down, what would you do if you were in a remote area and your mobile phone battery was dead? It may seem an unlikely situation, but as the weather worsens the risk increases. Pack a small winter emergency kit in your car, including essentials like a torch, shovel, blanket, and spare mobile phone/charger, and ensure you’re not left out in the cold.

Drive to match road conditions - With ice, rain, and high winds, road conditions can become more dangerous in the winter, so make sure you take appropriate measures to avoid risks. Maintain a safe distance from the car in front, and adjust your speed for the road conditions — it may not be safe to drive at the normal speed limit if the road is icy or visibility is reduced.

De-ice properly - Make sure you’ve properly cleared any ice and snow from your car before setting off, including from your car’s lights, mirrors, and roof. Snow from the roof could melt and fall on your windscreen, limiting your visibility and increasing the chances of an accident. Failing to de-ice your car fully could invalidate your car insurance if you need to make a claim for an accident caused by poor visibility.

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Protecting your home

Here are Policy Expert's top tips for protecting your home from the cold.

Check your boiler and heating system – If you haven’t done so already this year, get your boiler checked and/or serviced by a Gas Safe registered plumber.

Roof tiles – Check for any cracked, missing or loose tiles and replace them. If a roof is in disrepair the weight of snow or high winds can prove to be hazardous.

Keep the central heating on – Set the central heating to a minimum of 14 degrees Celsius throughout the winter. It helps prevent pipes freezing and frost damage.

Repair damaged chimneys – Look for cracks around chimney pots and at the roof join, also for loose render and render that’s come away from the stack. High winds and heavy rain can damage chimneys even further, make sure they’re properly stable before extreme weather happens.

Windows – Take a look at your window frames and fill any cracks and put on a coat of paint if needed. Extreme temperatures and wet weather can cause untreated wood to expand and rot, treating the window sills helps prevent water and frost damage.

Insulation – Lag any pipes and water tanks in exposed areas such as lofts, garages and utility rooms to prevent pipes freezing and bursting.

Guttering and drains – Clear your guttering and drains of any debris such as leaves, mud and stones; they can block easily and freeze up.

Walls – Check the pointing in brickwork both on the main house, all outbuildings and garden walls, look for any loose stone or areas that are in need of repair.

Fuse box and electrics – A home’s electrics are a major source of insurance claims. If you haven’t done so in a while, get a registered electrician to check your home’s fuse box and wiring.